Female firefighters' shocking claims of sexism at work

Female firefighters have told investigators from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Right Commission of allegations of sexism, bullying and harassment in the role. The firies allege that they were forced to take part in a hazing ritual where they were made to strip naked and pose in group photographs with male recruits, the Herald Sun reports.

Former senior employees told investigators of occasions where male firefighters would bring women back to the station to have sex in offices, have porn on display in common areas and use derogatory terms to refer to female employees.

Alleged links between the Firefighters Union and the MFB’s HR division are another concern to former employees, who worry that complaints from staff could be mishandled and are therefore scared to speak out.

It is alleged that recruitment panels are biased against hiring women, and suggestions of gender inequality training have in the past been shut down by senior members of the force. Shockingly, it’s also believed that women and men were made to climb to the top of a building and take their clothes off for a photo at the end of recruitment courses – although this behaviour is understood to have come to an end years ago.

The Herald Sun notes that some of the reported incidents date back to over a decade ago, and it is note that not all cases of inappropriate behaviour are ongoing.

A recent report into Victoria Police has been credited by unions as a catalyst for change, and inspired a fire services review which found a lack of gender diversity and bullying within the firefighting force. As a result, former minister Jane Garrett commissioned this wider-ranging probe, which the UFU is reportedly encouraging members not to take part in.

A spokesman for the commission said the report would be made public later this year.

A MFB spokeswoman said: “MFB respects the process being undertaken by VEOHRC and does not consider it appropriate to comment until the process is complete and VEOHRC have released their findings.”